BRADFORD CITY AA

FOUR weeks ago, we were desperate for water in our rivers and lakes, but rain has now flushed the rivers thoroughly. This year we've seen chub and barbel spawning late – they have only just finished – but both coarse and game fish are now responding well to the cooler and fresher weather and water.

Probably the best fish this week was a monster barbel of 13lb 7oz, a personal best for Simon Chapman, from the club's fishery on the River Swale at Topcliffe, although lots of smaller barbel to about 10lb have also come to the net.

Anglers on the club's still-water fisheries also report good weights. John Dakin had bream to over 10lb from Shipton Lake, while fishermen at Oakworth's large pond have netted carp to over 10lb and large nets of silver fish from the small pond. At Staveley, Mark Hill had an excellent mirror carp of over 20lb, which had put on over 6lb in less than two years.

Trout fishing on the rivers has also been excellent, with anglers regularly returning ten to 15 fish at Buckden and Hubberholme on the River Wharfe, taken on nymphs and small beetles. On the Aire, Jon Grey had five good brownies between 1lb and 3lb from the Gargrave section, plus others on the dry fly, within "one magical hour towards last light", as well as extended viewings of a large dog otter and a barn owl.

A riverfly sampling exercise on the Aire this week counted large numbers of small heptagenids, olives, stoneflies and cased caddis to an average size of about 1.5mm – good clues to fly anglers about patterns and size of fly to use. Unfortunately, we have also seen discoloured discharge from the sewage treatment works at Gargrave into the river and have reported this to the Environment Agency.

Can members call the EA hotline if they see any more pollution entering the river, using the number on the back cover of their yearbook. If they could also pull any Himalayan Balsam they spot beside the river to help stop this invasive plant spreading, that would be appreciated.

A suspected case of KHV was reported this week at Tyersal in Bradford. This dangerous virus can exterminate complete populations of cyprinid fish, including carp, and anglers should be especially careful to clean, check and dry their fishing tackle thoroughly for 24 hours before entering any fishery to prevent any risk of spread. We have decided to ban the use of keep-nets on all our still-waters until further notice as an additional precaution.

The last BCAA match on the River Ure at Lower Dunsforth was won by Fred Prudham on peg one with 54lb 8oz of bream, roach and perch on stick-float and red maggot. The next match is tomorrow on the old Barbel Society length on the Swale at Topcliffe. To book a place, and for further information, call Rodney Brooksbank on 07875-275749. Anyone planning to night fish this length should note that no fishing will be allowed after 1am tomorrow.

BRADFORD No 1 AA

Harry Michael completed a clean sweep at this year's juniors matches on Saturday, following up his win in the tiddler (under-11s) section of the first match last month with another match win and the best aggregate weight. Drawn on the same peg as the first match, he topped his previous weight with 30 F1 carp, fishing pole and pellet shallow for 32lb 8oz in the three-and-a-half-hour match. This took his aggregate weight over the two matches to 59lb 1oz – more than double the next best. Juniors (ages 11-16): 1 Harry Sandham 13lb 2oz, 2 Alex Riley 13lb. Tiddlers: 1 Harry Michael 32lb 8oz, 2 Harrison Jones 17lb, 3 Jacob Riley 11lb, 4 Riley O'Hara 3lb 4oz, 5 Harry Hamer 6oz.

Despite good nets of skimmers being caught from the stretch through the week, they failed to show up for the officials' match on the Aire & Calder Canal at Rawcliffe Bridge, the calm conditions likely being to blame. Result: 1 Geoff Bass 7lb 10oz (mainly perch), 2 Ian Bradley 6lb 7oz, 3 Simon Freer 6lb 4oz. Biggest fish trophy: Paul Hopkins, 2lb 12oz bream. Harry Foster Memorial Trophy (best aggregate weight over the three matches): Nick Freer 58lb 4oz.

Some sections of the River Calder will be closed on Sunday for round three of the Calder League. Large nets of roach are being caught from above and below Cooper Bridge on float and maggot or hemp.

The top lake at Shelf has been raked to reduce weeds. The bottom lake is fishing very well for roach and bream on bread or maggot.

SKIPTON AA

Result of fourth Sunset Series match: 1 Kenny Wright 1010g, 2 Russell Heaton 780g, 3 Malcolm Mawson 200gm 4 Graeme Waterfall 40g. With two matches remaining to be fished on Tuesdays, August 1 and 15, leading positions are: 1 Russell Heaton 68pts, 2 William Raymond-Barker 50, 3= Graeme Waterfall, Simon Chenier 50, 5 Kenny Wright 44.

Summer League result at Snaygill: 1 Terry Bolland 2040g, 2 Danny Bolland 1320g, 3 Dave Fenn 1280g, 4 Ernie Ramsbotham 980g. Leading positions: 1 Andrew Wharton 26pts, 2 Russell Heaton 27, 3 Dave Fenn 32, 4 Terry Bolland 40, 5= Kenny Wright, Bill Davenport 46. The next match is on Sunday on the Broughton Road length of the canal.

KEIGHLEY AC

There were mixed fortunes for anglers using stick-float methods on the River Aire over the past week. One member landed six chub up to 1lb during a one-hour afternoon session, using mixed maggot in a shallow, fast-flowing stretch of water near Utley. Meanwhile, other anglers were forced to switch to pole and waggler to avoid minnows and other smaller fish which eagerly took their bait.

Our waters between Steeton and Kildwick continue to yield strong results, with anglers using a variety of tactics and bait to land brown trout, chub and grayling. Darren Watson chose to pole-fish eight metres from the bank at a popular spot to land prime specimens of trout and chub.

The pole method combining maggot with groundbait is also proving popular, with roach and perch on many swims along the entire length between Keighley and Skipton.

BRADFORD SEA AC

Our next trip is to North Shields on Wednesday, August 30. There are one or two places left and anyone wishing to go should contact Dave on 07711-987833. We are trying to organise a fishing trip for beginners early next month. If you fancy a go at boat fishing, or your son or daughter would like to see what it is like, call Dave on the above number. All tackle will be provided by the club. Fishing is now in full swing on the east and west coasts, with plenty of fish being caught. We have six anglers fishing Culdaff in County Donegal for six days next week, so we wish them tight lines and will keep you posted on their catches.

BRADFORD PALS AC

Result of last Sunday's match at Brafferton (Ghost Lake): 1 Andy Clough 65lb 8oz, 2 Geoff Darke 63lb 4oz, 3 Keith Turner 57lb 5oz, 4 John Christopher Foreman 45lb 3oz. The club would like to thank Pete Fraser for sponsoring the biggest fish in this match, which was won by Andy Clough. Our next match is on Sunday, August 6 at Woodland Lakes on Skylark (cafe opens at 7.30am) and you must use the fishery pellets. Any member not fishing this match must notify the match secretary by Sunday or they will be charged a peg fee. Points table (after seven matches): 1 Bernard Hook 53, 2 Steve Barker 46, 3 John Christopher Foreman 45, 4 Andy Clough 38, 5 John Hooley 32.

CLAYTON AC

Result of Sunday's match at Viking (17 fished): 1 Kevin Armitage 123lb, 2 Graham Hall 120lb 12oz, 3 Steff Armitage 102lb 8oz. Section winners: Chris Slinger 89lb, Alan Haley 86lb. Joe Jonas 66lb 2oz. Next match is on Sunday, August 6 at Tollerton (Heron Lake). Any member not fishing should notify Jason seven days prior to match.